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Star Wars - The Binding of Destiny [Tobie Peril & Impossible]

She paused in her snack to consider his suggestion. “Are you one of those Church of the Force followers?” she asked after swallowing her latest bite. “There’s some on Jakku that come into Nima now and then.” They were a bit loony in her opinion, but she was hardly going to share that thought with him if he counted himself as a follower. The pear was soon gone and her stomach satisfied. Rey was used to living with almost a constant state of hunger. It dawned on her that she may no longer need to worry about where her next meal would come from because of the First Order.

Rey bit her bottom lip as a thought crossed her mind. “Why are you asking me this?” she inquired. “You don’t think-“. She laughed, albeit nervously. “I don’t have....that. The Force I mean.” Kylo truly was mistaken. Her stomach fell out from under her as she realized what the mistake would lead to: her return to Jakku. “That’s what you used to rip open my door. And....and to freeze me or whatever you did.”
 
"Yes," Kylo answered directly, thinking back to his incident with the hatch. He figured that lying to her at this point was not in his own best interest. "I'm able to use the Force in such a way that I can manipulate the world around me, to a certain extent." Kylo knew that there was a more scientific explanation for his connection with the Force. Those lessons were connected to his teachings at the Jedi temple, which he found redundant and obsolete.

"But don't confuse me with those cultists," Kylo continued to explain. "My connection to the Force has nothing to do with faith or tricks for children. For me, it has a more practical use."

As a way of showing his strength, he waved his hand in front of Rey's face. His goal was to manipulate the girl. This was one of the first things he learned under the leadership of Snoke. In his mind, he was instructing her: "You will go to the food cupboard and retrieve the apple in the basket. You will come sit next to me on the sofa and feed it to me."
 
Rey's eyes widened at his revelation. Not knowing the Force all too well, she admittedly was skeptical of the ability. To her it was all tricks and not a mystical power that bound the universe together. All of a sudden her thoughts were not her own but instead were instructions of Kylo's. Her mind accepted the directive until she was in the cupboard with her hand wrapped around an apple. Something snapped within her; perhaps her own, untapped strength of the Force. Rey stared down in confusion at the apple in her hand before looking to Kylo.

"How-" She didn't recall going to the cupboard or wanting to brazenly grab an apple. Yet something deep within her had balked at the suggestion. She shook her head as if to clear her thoughts.

"You did something to me," Rey accused, a hint of irritation in her voice. She sank back down into her seat, his desired apple in her lap. "Don't do that."
 
Kylo stared at Rey as she made her objecttions. He did his best to keep her face neutral, nearly expressionless. She had broken his hold over her. He wasn't using much of his power to control her; he was just impressed that she was finally able to show some resistance. The Force was making itself known to protect her.

"Sorry, it was only for a demonstration," Kylo told her. He raised his hand once more, summoning the apple into his hand, taking a small bite. "I will promise you this; if you can put your trust in me, there will be no reason for me to do that. Isn't it interesting though? How you were able to come back away. Maybe that is why I was sent to get you."

The familiar voice broke over the intercom once more: "Jump from light-speed complete. We will start preparations to board Starkiller Base."

Outside the window, the light show slowly ceased as the darkness of space returned. In their view was Starkiller Base; a dead, mechanical planet with a giant cannon in the middle. Kylo knew that it was still going to be a long time before that cannon could be considered operational. However, his concern wasn't on the strategy to wipe out the Resistance. Soon, they would be meeting Snoke, and everything would start to make sense.
 
Unknown to Rey, the Force had always been with her. It had lay dormant for most of her life, save for the times it had steered her from harm. Her brows furrowed as she thought over Kylo's suggestion. Trust him and he wouldn't do such a thing to her again? For a moment she'd been blinded by Kylo's generosity and kind words; she had to remember that this man was still a stranger to her. The young woman shrugged at his comment regarding her ability to break his hold. She'd been called strong-minded before, but had never thought of the trait in this particular way.

Her attention was diverted to the viewport in order to catch a glimpse of the base. The sight below was enough to rip a gasp from her throat. "Is that-" She cut herself off as Rey scrambled off her chair to the viewport. She'd never seen snow before, but knew upon gazing onto the icy landscape what the white flakes were. Rey had once heard stories of such precipitation in Nima. She supposed it made sense that an entire planet could be cold and snowy where Jakku was hot and sandy.

She pressed her hand to the viewport in wonder.
 
A slight smile appeared on Kylo's face, amused by Rey's reaction. He understood the sense of awe and wonder she was witnessing. He figured that her world had been nothing but sand and the occasional drizzle. He pondered what it would be like taking her to witness the lakes of Naboo or the fiery magma of Mustafar.

The ship was able to land without issue. The landing bay was filled with the usual hustle and bustle. Battleships were being patched up, some were taking off into the skies, and stormtrooper recruits were going through their training. As Kylo was getting ready to leave, he paused, noticing that his helmet wasn't covering his face. It was rare for him to be so bare when he was awake. That mask is what made him feared by his peers; it reminded them of what he was capable of. Still, he was nervous of how Rey would see him once it was back on. Had he done enough to where it wouldn't invoke fear?

He placed his mask over his face. For a moment, the interface in front of his eyes activated, calibrating to the environment around him. And now he was able to see his surroundings clearly once more. He turned to Rey, outstretching his hand. He wasn't going to try anything.

"Ready?"
 
The snowy landscape was replaced by the bustling interior of the base's docking bay. Stormtroopers in their white plastoid marched to and fro, some loading onto ships and some disembarking. Rey wondered how many people were present at the base as surely she'd already spotted the measly population of Nima just in the hangar.

She stood from her seat and clutched her staff. The weapon, although feeble compared to the laser sword that Kylo had, was the only protection she could claim of her own. Rey made to follow him but paused at the return of his mask. The metal covering seemed fearsome and threatening compared to the almost princely appearance beneath. She longed to ask him why he felt the need to wear the mask, but supposed she knew the answer well enough; his appearance was deceiving.

The modulated voice sent a shiver down her back. "Ready," Rey echoed, handing him her free hand.

Upon disembarking she was treated to her first encounter with frigid air. Her clothing was best suited for the dry, hot planet of Jakku. Once she recovered from the momentary shock of the cold, Rey followed him onward through the hangar.
 
Kylo allowed himself to relax as Rey took his hand. After grabbing his lightsaber, he began to escort her off the ship, paying no attention to the Knights or the flight crew. They had completed the mission and now he had no use for them. They continued to make their way into the facility. Due to his suit being insolated, he wasn't affected by the change in temperature but wondered how Rey would adapt.

Stormtroopers marched in line passed them with little acknowledgment. His focus was on getting her to Snoke's chamber. There, he would be able to contact him and finally get some answers. As they prepared take to turn the corner, a man in a dark uniform blocked them off. The man stood stoically, his ginger hair freshly cut. This was General Armitage Hux. Kylo took a hard stop, squeezing the hand he held onto Rey. He used his body to obstruct Hux's view of her.

"Ren," Hux said harshly.

"Hux," Kylo responded in kind.

"It appears that your mission was a success," Hux said, eyeing the girl. By appearance alone, he assumed her to be savagely and dirty. "I see that you've taken yourself a little prize. Off to your personal chambers?"

Kylo glared at the General. If Rey wasn't here, he would activate his lightsaber, reminding him who the superior one. Instead, he ignored his taunt.

"I am on my way to see the Supreme Leader," he told him.
 
Rey took in as much of their surroundings as possible as Kylo directed her toward their destination. The base reminded her greatly of the interior of the ships she scavenged, albeit in much better condition. Rey was eager to see the interior of a battleship in order to draw comparisons between the older and newer models. Perhaps, if she pleased the 'Supreme Leader', she would be able to make her request to Kylo.

She stopped short at the appearance of the stoic general. Despite Kylo's movement to shield her, Rey was able to peek out from his side at the man. She ducked back once he flung the disgusting implication her way. Her face reddened from the insult; how dare he think her nothing but a prostitute!

"What would the Supreme Leader want with scum such as that?" Hux asked, arching an imperious brow. "Clearly you have failed your mission, for there is no way that Supreme Leader would have sent you after her."

Rey could hear the smugness in the general's tone; it was clear that there was some type of rivalry between him and Kylo.
 
Kylo Ren didn't need his connection with the Force to know that Rey was not pleased with Hux's comment. He thought of the staff that she was so attached to, wondering if she would use it to attack him. If that happened, he'd probably let the struggle go on for a bit before bringing Rey had a chance to do serious damage to Hux. It was a pleasant thought.

"The Supreme Leader trusts my judgment in the Force," Kylo said. "If he had sent you in my place, I'm sure you would have collapsed due to dehydration and incompetence."

Kylo used the power of the Force to push Hux away, slamming him against the wall. While Hux didn't fall, the impact caught him by surprise, causing him to yelp. The General always wanted to have the last word when it came to matters with Kylo Ren, but as he saw the terrifying glare in the scavenger's eyes, he had lost his train of thought.

"Don't mind him," Ren told her as they continued. "All he does is try to prove to himself he belongs in our ranks."

Finally, they were at a dead end; well, not really. They had reached a giant door; the only place on the base where one was able to reach Snoke. The door pushed itself open. Kylo tightened his grip on Rey's wrist, not trying to be forceful, but comforting. It was at this moment where she was going to meet her destiny.
 
Hux's eyes practically bulged out his head at the sudden shove from the Force. His distrust for the ability and the magical air it embodied was well known. He was, of course, guarded with with his hate of it; the Supreme Leader could wield it the same as Kylo Ren. The general glared at the pair as they passed before attempting to regain his composure.

Rey followed hastily after Kylo in order to leave the general behind. "I suppose he wasn't told either why I was brought here?" she asked, still miffed about the general's assumption of her purpose. Plenty on Jakku had traded themselves in the skin tents for a bite to eat, but Rey had held out. To think that the man thought her nothing more than a whore.....

Her anger was disrupted by the appearance of the audience chamber. Rey gave pause, although Kylo's supportive grip help encourage her. She stepped into the cavernous chamber and instantly spotted the gigantic holo of who only could be the Supreme Leader.

"Good work, my apprentice," Snoke's voice boomed throughout the room. "I see you have brought our guest without incident." He leaned forward in his throne to get a better look at Rey. "Come forward and let me see you better."
 
Kylo watched as Snoke's giant face approached them. His old, wrinkled face reflected the wisdom of the Force. With the power of the force, he pushed Rey closer to him, as if he was holding her in a giant, invisible fist. Snoke studied every detail of the girl. Her frame, while thin, showed the strength and agility of a fighter. And of course, there was the raw power that laid dormant within her.

"Not exactly what I was expected," Snoke said as he was surveying the girl. Snoke sensed that Rey wasn't pleased by his commentary. "Oh? Did you not like what I had say? I can see it in your eyes. And your soul. That strong determination to prove yourself to everybody you encounter. That subtle but fiery passion can only belong to one with the blood of a Palpatine."

Kylo Ren couldn't believe what he heard. He shot a look straight at Rey.

"What?"
 
Rey had no choice but to move closer as Snoke used his power over the Force to compel her. Her face darkened as he looked her over as the traders in Nima did merchandise. Her distaste for the proceedings was noted by Snoke who only seemed to be amused by her.

The announcement of her surname and all that it implied wiped any look of consternation from her face. “What?” Rey echoed Kylo’s outburst. Her education was admittedly rudimentary, mostly based on the teachings of village elders and some holo decks, but she recognized the name. The former emperor had been a Palpatine, which made...

“Her father was Palpatine’s only offspring,” Snoke continued, speaking over Rey to Kylo. “We are in the presence of the last claimant to the Galactic Empire, Her Imperial Highness Reyana Palpatine.” The Supreme Leader chuckled in such a way that Rey felt a shiver run through her. His grip on her ceased, allowing her freedom of movement once more.
 
Kylo couldn't believe what he was hearing. There was no known record of Palpatine ever procreating. But he could not think of a reason for Snoke to make up something like this. Kylo channeled the Force, trying to find something to ground both him and the truth to each other. As Snoke released the girl, Kylo quickly approached her. He wanted to appear comforting to Rey, but he also needed answers.

"Did you know," he whispered to her.

"And now with the last living Palpatine's arrival, your mission is complete," Snoke spoke to Ren. "You have served me welll, my apprentice, and you shall be rewarded. Henceforth, I bestow to you the title of Master. With this new rank, I will humbly offer you a gift: Reyana."

Kylo's attention broke from Rey for only a moment. Kylo didn't doubt his own strength, but he still felt there was so much to be taught about the Force. And, of course, this would lead to more responsibility among the First Order. But then, the last part of Snoke's statement drew her back to Rey, no longer a scavenger, but possibly the most powerful person in the galaxy.
 
Did she know?

She vaguely remembered her parents, but had not known their true names. Rey shook her head at Kylo’s inquiry as to her true identity; she hadn’t known. Her parents most likely had hidden her true heritage to protect her. If it had been widely known that a Palpatine heir was alive, Rey would’ve been hunted by pro and anti imperials. But what had happened to her parents? Snoke had said Rey was the last heir, which led her to believe that her father was gone.

Snoke steepled his spindly fingers beneath his chin as he observed the pair. “A union between the Palpatine and Skywalker lines will be unstoppable,” he explained. “It’ll be enough to blot out the taint of Solo in you.” This he directed toward Kylo with a sneer. “Leaving the First Order to you with a perfected bloodline will ease my mind.”

Rey made to protest but found herself pushed to her knees. “Save your breath, princess,” Snoke said with frustration. “Your fate was decided the moment you first drew breath.”
 
The remainder of Kylo's true heritage struck a deep nerve in Kylo Ren. He was the product of two Rebel leaders who were responsible for the Empire's demise. No matter how hard he tried, it would be impossible to permanently sever the link he had to his past. After all, it was that same link that connected him to Vader.

"Before we can complete this union, we must first channel the power hidden within you." Snoke then directed his attention to the new Master. "Kylo Ren, you will take your new apprentice to Iilum where she will steal a Kyber crystal for her own lightsaber. You will train her in the ways of the Force. Trust in the Force, and wait for when I need you again."

Before Kylo had a chance to protest, the giant hologram faded away and they were left in darkness. He reached out, grabbing onto Rey's hand, leaving the chamber. As he made his way down the hall, he began to really process what he had just heard. It was all so much to take in; and then there was another mission on top of it. His body was almost running on autopilot, zipping through until he reached his own personal chambers on the base.
 
Rey barely heard what Snoke said to Kylo as she was struggling to process the news. The end of the holographic transmission jolted her back to the present. Not once had she been asked what she thought, or if she even wanted to be tied to the near-stranger standing beside her. Rey had no opportunity to voice her concerns as Kylo escorted her swiftly to his quarters. Upon reaching the privacy of his rooms, Rey yanked her hand from his.

“I want to leave,” she stated, voice strong despite the fear running through her. “I didn’t agree to this. I didn’t-“. Her hand, still grasping her staff, began to tremble. Rey spun on her heel to face Kylo. “Please take me back to Jakku. Please.”

Rey didn’t wish to beg, but she hoped her plea would be enough. She got the sense that the masked Force user wasn’t pleased with the arrangement. Perhaps he would take pity on her and bring her back to her home.
 
Rey's objections to the arrangement were shocking, but not wildly unexpected. He remembered how he felt when he first heard Snoke calling out to him. It was frightening, but also mid-opening. And he couldn't just allow her to leave. It had been revealed to her that she was the granddaughter of one of the most powerful Sith Lords who ever lived. That bell can never be unrung.

Since they were in the privacy of his room, he lifted the mask off of his face. He knew that if he did this, showed his humanity to her, maybe she could be compelled to stay.

"You can't leave," he answered. It wasn't a question of what she wished. For the rest of her life, she was going to have a target on her back; it didn't matter what she wanted anymore. "If you leave, Snoke will hunt you down. You wouldn't be able to return to your normal life. Why would you want to go back anyway?"

As he spoke, he could feel his face getting redder. He was allowing his unstable emotions to take over, just like when he was in a battle. He stopped himself, taking in a deep breath.

"Rey, this is your life now. Give me time and I can turn you into a powerful warrior. You'll be well protected by the First Order. As well, you'll have me training you, so I'll be by your side at all times."
 
Rey's stomach sank at his denial, despite the showing of his face. A small part of herself was put at ease at the sight of the human visage rather than the cold metal mask, but it wasn't enough to quell her fears. "I don't care," she insisted irrationally through grit teeth. "I want to leave." She would gladly go back to scavenging in the wastelands of Jakku if that meant forgetting all that had been told to her. Rey was born after the fall of the Empire yet knew enough of galactic history to know of Palpatine's atrocities. Jakku had seen its fair share of destruction if the graveyard of ships was any clue.

Rey took note of Kylo's raised ire as he spoke. She felt uneasy; the sense that she now knew to be the Force was prodding her to tread lightly around the man. Despite this warning Rey did not back down. "I don't want to be a 'powerful warrior'. I just-" Her anger sent a data pad that was resting on a nearby desk sailing across the room. The data pad smacked against the wall before falling to the floor. Rey's irritation was dampened at the unexpected show of the Force.

"I'm sorry," she said in a rush, hurriedly taking a step back from him. She hadn't touched the data pad but knew that it's flight had been her fault. Both hands moved to grip her staff, as if holding a solid object would keep her abilities in check.
 
Kylo pivoted his body as he watched the datapad fly right past him. This must have been the first time that she channeled the power of the Force in all of her life. This only confirmed to him that nothing had gone wrong; she was who Snoke claimed her to be. Her anger was guiding her. He knew that this might not be the right time to call rank on the girl, but he found it to be a possible tactic of getting her to stay.

Kylo reached his hand out, using the force to summon the Staff to his hand. It flew to him with ease, making a solid impact with his gloved hand. He took a quick examination of it, noting the scratches that held the hidden history of her battles.

"First lesson Padawan," Kylo said to her, his voice solid and fierce. "Take it."

He raised the stick above his head, keeping a good grip on it. He glared at his student, using his mind to keeping her feet planted still.

"Do it, Rey. Get your staff. Do that, and we can go wherever you want."
 
It was obvious how he intended for her to reach the staff, which irritated her all the more. How could he expect her to be able to channel the Force without fully knowing what it was? Rey surmised that Kylo was doing this just to prove a point. "I can't," she said through a clenched jaw. "I can't with you holding my feet down." The uncontrolled ire that had guided her use of the Force with the data pad wasn't something she could yet channel on her own. "You know that! Don't tease me!" What would have happened had she been able to retrieve the staff from him? Rey didn't believe that he would have willingly returned her to Jakku.

Her hands remained balled at her side as reaching for the staff would do nothing. Tears of frustration- at being unable to pass his test, at having the course of her life decided for her- pricked the corners of her eyes.

What else Snoke had said unsettled her further. He'd mentioned a union. Surely it couldn't be the sort she was thinking of.
 
Kylo Ren felt unsure of his abilities as a teacher when Rey didn't feel the staff even move an inch in my fingers. It was obvious that she wasn't going to get the staff from him using the Froce. She failed the test and she needed to be punished. He summoned his lightsaber to his hand, activated it, and cut her staff in half. He was ready to rub the failure it in her face when he paused. It was a memory, almost like a vision, back to his Jedi train.

"Reach out, Ben," his uncle would urge. "Feel the pebble in my hand. The Force is an extension of yourself. Feel yourself picking it up and summon it."

It was the worst memory Kylo Ren could have, but it came at the most opportune time. He realized that he had failed her as a teacher on her very first day of training. He expected her to do so much without even being taught. He stared down at the broken staff pieces in his hands. He gave them to her.

"I didn't want to break it," He told her. 'You had it in you to take it. You just need to feel for the Force; it will come to you, as natural as breathing does. And I'll do better to help you. Come with me to get your saber, and then you can decide what you want."

Kylo pressed a button on his uniform. "Ready my ship. I'll be taking my apprentice to Iilum. Alone."

"Yes, Master," the voice answered.

Kylo Ren wasn't sure if he was ever going to get used to being called that.
 
The arrival of his lightsaber sent a shiver of fear through her. Surely he wouldn't cut her down over this?!

To her absolute horror Kylo cut through her staff. "No!" Rey shouted, watching as the weapon that had seen her through her struggles on Jakku broke in half. When he offered her the pieces she snatched them away from his grip. Holding the broken halves to her torso, Rey glared at him without restraint. "You...bastard!" she snapped, not caring in the moment that his weapon was in far better shape than her own.

She wished to remind him that he didn't need to break the weapon because there was no need to. He'd set her up to fail and punished her for her inevitable mistake. Rey wrapped her arms around the remnants of her staff while Kylo spoke of his plan to bring her to Iilum. She resolutely refused to look at him as he called for his ship to be prepared. He wanted her to make a lightsaber? Well, than he would have to watch his back for she was surely send it through him.

"You didn't have to do that," she bit, glaring down at the floor.
 
"Yes, I did," Kylo said to her. "What if Snoke went after you and stole your staff? You think he'd give you a chance to get it back? Lesson one, Padawan: do what you can and don't get killed." It was similar to what Snoke had taught him when he started hearing his voice. Of course, he didn't listen back then and it ended up with his uncle trying to kill him in his sleep. The first lesson is the hardest to learn.

"We're going, now," He told her, his tone rough. "If we're lucky, maybe we can use what's left of your staff as a base for your saber."
 
Rey didn’t appreciate his explanation. “What is that?” she questioned. “What you keep calling me; what does it mean?” She guessed it had something to do with his ridiculous Force and his newfound role as her guide. She clutched the remnants of her staff a bit tighter at the suggestion that she may be able to repurpose the parts. She had a scavenger’s a mind and a tinker’s heart; she could see the potential.

“Then let’s go,” Rey snapped, supposing they might as well get the trip over with. As soon as she made her lightsaber, then she was leaving.
 
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